This is regarding work order # 17169.  Called my insurance to have my battery jumped today.  The man that came out quickly, and jumped my battery.  He gave me some tips on what to do when I went to Checkers to get it replaced so I could get a new battery under the warranty.  As I was pulling out of my driveway,  it died again.  Fortunately, he was still there and gave it another jump.  He let me know it could be the alternator, and what to do before I hit the road to get it checked so I could avoid getting stranded.  I was able to get the battery replaced under the warranty, with no trouble getting to Checkers. 

I just wanted to say thank you for really good customer service.  He was very polite, and helpful.  I will be sure to keep Locks-n-More on file if I need any of your other services. Also, this was done through American Family Insurance.

Thanks,

Robin L

According to the Associated Locksmith of America (ALOA) the complaint heard most often by consumers is for car openings. The price quoted over the phone to stranded motorist is around $45. When the individual arrives and unlocks the car, he hands the motorist a bill for $135 – $150. This unscrupulous individual tells the frustrated consumer that the $45 was just the service call and that it was another $90 – $100 for servicing the lock. ALOA has record of a number of incidents of elderly consumers locked out of their homes and being charged $900 to $1700 to replace a $12 lock. These out-of-state operations are set up solely to make money by purposely defrauding the public.

Brian from Locks-N-More www.locksnmore.com   a legitimate locksmith roadside assistance company in the Phoenix Arizona market states there a several keys to Hiring a Reputable Locksmith. Since most locksmith work in either an emergency (car or home unlocking) or general locksmith work such as Re-Keying or repairing, replacing locks.  

If you’re locked out of your car and have a roadside assistance service, call them first. These services sometimes are included with the purchase of a car, or as an add-on through your insurance company.

Keys to Hiring a Reputable Locksmith

• Are they family owned and operated or part of an out of state answering service? If it is the later – be wary
• If a company answers the phone with a generic phrase like “locksmith services,” rather than a company-specific name, be wary. Ask for the legal name of the business. If the person refuses, call another locksmith.

• Get an estimate for all work and replacement parts from the locksmith before work begins. In cases of “lock-outs” (being locked out of your car or home), most legitimate locksmiths will give you an estimate on the phone for the total cost of the work.

   Ask about additional fees before you agree to have the locksmith perform the work. Companies may charge extra for responding to a call in the middle of the night. Ask if there is a charge for mileage, or a minimum fee for a service call.

   If the price the locksmith provides when he arrives doesn’t jibe with the estimate you got on the telephone, do not allow the work to be done.

   Never sign a blank form authorizing work.

• Find out if the locksmith is insured. If your property is damaged during a repair, or if faulty work leads to loss or damage, it’s important for the locksmith to have insurance to cover your losses.
• When the locksmith arrives, ask for identification, including a business card and, where applicable, a locksmith license. Nine states require locksmiths to be licensed: Alabama, California, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. In addition to a business card, check to see if the invoice includes the company’s name, and whether the locksmith’s vehicle has a name that matches the business card, invoice, and/or bill.
• Expect the locksmith to ask you for identification, as well. A legitimate locksmith should confirm your identity and make sure you’re the property owner before doing any work.
• Some locksmiths will work out of a car for quick or emergency jobs, but most will arrive in a service vehicle that is clearly marked with their company’s name.
• In the case of a lock-out, be cautious if you’re told up front that the lock has to be drilled and replaced. An experienced legitimate locksmith has invested in the tools and education to provide quality service, and can unlock almost any door.
• Once you’ve found a reputable locksmith, keep the company’s name and contact information in your wallet and address book at home or at work. You also may want to program this information into your home and cell phones. This can save you time and trouble the next time you need these services.  

Legitimate locksmiths are usually small mobile companies and have invested many hundreds of dollars in tools, and education. Yet phone books and internet is full of out of state scams artist that make it very difficult for legitimate locksmiths to compete with the advertising schemes that those out of state companies are using.

DON’T BE BURNED BY A SCAM LOCKSMITH and pay more for inferior work by those that may not be licensed or insured. Visit www.locksnmore.com for additional information.

 According to Brian (owner of Locks-N-More located in the Eastern valley and the Phoenix, Arizona market) a locksmith is one of the first people that are called to secure the home by Re-Keying the locks to protect the banks interest. Once the repossessed home is Re-Keyed then cleaners and other workman will get the home ready for resale.

 But security does not stop at the first Re-Key because the buyer of the home is given the same key that the cleaners, repairman and others in the preparation of the home to sale. Locks-N-More highly recommends that the new home owners should have the home Re-Keyed so they have 100% control of who has a key to their newly purchased home.

 Locks-N-More is a professional locksmith company that works with foreclosure agents to secure the agents homes and offers those agents a discount package. If you are an agent looking for fast, professional locksmith service at discounted rates or you are a home owner that is concerned about home security call 480-219-9580 or go to his web site at www.locksnmore.com

Many of the cleaning agent, you use daily are harmful, highly toxic and can cause allergic reactions, skin irritations, respiratory problems, suppress the nervous system and disrupt the ecosystem! 

Our solution that we recommend to our customers and supports found on www.locksnmore.com products are: Plant-based- Biodegradable – Chemical-free, Dioxane-free- Phosphate-free – pH neutral (non-corrosive and non-caustic – Effective (anionic surfactants) and the best part if you hurry they are ON SALE this week.

We offer several benefits to our customers – check out our web site often for specials to keep you and your family safe and healthy.

Your locks are your first line of defense in protecting your home family and business. Why?

Sometimes domestic problems may dictate securing your home and protecting your family and possessions.

• Purchasing a new home regardless if it has been in foreclosure, short sale or conventional sales approach or even building a new home. During the sales process – realtors, inspectors, potential buyers and workmen have access to your home keys. Also, did you know that builders will often use a “Control Key System” that might change one or two pins in the lock creating what they call a “new” key for the home owners? That “Control Key System” may not be as secure as you think and the builders are asking you to trust them.
• Peace of mind – Locks-N-More recommends a system Re-Key to provide a secure feeling and ensure that only you control the keys to your new home.
• If you own a business – employees come and go and sometimes they don’t return the keys or may have made copies -

It’s a great feeling when you are handed the keys to your new home. For the safety of your family and business the first thing that you should do is to have a reputable locksmith Re-Key the home. The cost should be under $100 depending on how many locks you have. For more information go to: www.locksnmore.com  Remember, not all phone book locksmiths are really local or honest.

Did you know that your home keys can be a safety concern to new home buyers?

Why? When a bank forecloses on a home they assign a realtor to get the home ready for placing on the market. One of the first things they do is hire a locksmith to Re-Key the home. (They don’t want the previous owners to have access to the home) Then they clean it up and repair any damage to the property and numerous people will have access to the keys during the process. Once a buyer is found, the new owner should have the locks Re-Keyed for the same reasons that the realtor had the home re-keyed. You don’t know who has a copy of the keys. For the safety of your family the first thing that you should do is to have a reputable locksmith Re-Key the home. The cost should be under $100 depending on how many locks you have. For more information go to: www.locksnmore.com  Remember that not all phone book locksmiths are really local or honest.

FREE HEALTH SEMINAR

Learn new information that your health professionals and the media may not know about. Every woman and family needs to hear about this exciting new information.

• Which prestigious U.S. University has proclaimed that a little know botanical could be specifically used for breast cancer prevention and treatment in post-menopausal women.
• If you or a loved one have, or if there is a family history of any major disease such as: Cancer, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, High blood pressure, Diabetes, Allergies, Alzheimer’s ,Asthma, or Osteoporosis, (over 200 in all), and if you are concerned about any major disease then this brief seminar is MUST for you!

 This seminar will be presented in a “Go-To-Meeting” format.  So it is in the privacy of your own home at a convenient time.

  Please register by forwarding your e-mail address to:

healthSeminar@att.net  you will be notified as to our schedule of times and dates.

What are we to do? Do we raise our deductibles to $5,000 or so? Do we make our employees pay more? Are we forced to drop coverage altogether and pay what fines may be imposed by the government? Do we go out of business? Do we eliminate jobs to help cover the costs? How will the average family cope with the added costs? These are tough questions that almost all business are being forced to deal with THIS YEAR.

As I look at this from a family business point of view, I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I need to have my family covered, but I need to increase our income in a very tough environment or lower expenses or a combination. I believe that every small business or self employed person are being forced to answer these very tough questions – Most businesses plan ahead for 3 to 5 years – but now many small businesses are trying to figure out how to pay the bills this month or the next 3 months to stay in business. Until we get a handle on this very important issue in my opinion very little hiring will happen in 2010 and perhaps into 2011.

What are we doing to solve this problem? We are looking at the following.

• Try to find some type of Co-op in order to reduce costs and stay at our current coverage.
• Increase our deductibles (to catastrophic coverage)  and pray that nothing happens
• Open up some type of (health savings plan) to help pay for the small health related day to day expenses.
• Get and stay healthy – develop a plan that is workable for each family which may include:
  • Taking supplements – I like a product that helps the whole body like mangosteen – I have found a good web site www.experience-mangosteen.com 
  • Learn how to treat small health issues at home when you can
  • Develop a eating and exercise plan that a family can follow.

I would be interested to learn what other self-employed or small business owners are doing. So we all can learn together.

This could have been avoided by having her locks re-keyed.  It certainly would have made it more difficult for him to get into her home.  Remember order of protections and restraining orders are a good idea to help protect people, but they are only paper.  Make sure that your locks are working properly, that you know who has keys.  If you have a security system, use it.   It would not hurt to have some sort of self defense equipment inside your home, such as pepper spray, personal alarms, stun gun.  Of course all personal defense products should be kept out of reach of children, but in a place that you can get to in a hurry.  www.locksnmore.com  offers home re-keying and other locksmith services at the best prices you can find.  We also have aligned ourselves with a company that specializes in personal security and safety products.  See our web site for more information on Locks-N-More, and visit our product pages.

Be aware and be safe.

    This is a strong message.  If you think something is wrong  don’t take a chance.  My daughter was lucky that there was no one in the home when she entered.  Make sure that your locks are in good operating condition and use them.  Your locks are your first line of defense.   Know who has keys and that no one has lost them.  If you can not account for all of your keys.  I would strongly recommend that you have the home Re-Keyed.   If you  have a similar story, or just a question or comment.  Please reply. 

Have a safe day